Quietest 40 to 50hp OMC motor in 1964?

[david-bartlett]

Looking for opinions from the group. My wife just bought a 1964 Alumacraft Maracaibo. She is very noise conscious and wants a quiet motor that is period correct.

Got to be a long shaft too.

Thanks.

[dan-in-tn]

No 50hp in ’64 for OMC. The 40hp is a twin with the Super Quiet twin wall midsection. They built a 60hp V-4 that year, but that motor may be too heavy for your boat. I would think it might be louder, but it has the Super Quiet twin midsection also. Both motors come in long shaft models. I have a ’64 Johnson 40hp on my FeatherCraft SkiBo. Good dependable engine. Of course I like the "Classic", but the later models are much quieter.

Dan in TN

[david-bartlett]

Dan,

40 is probably OK. Alumacraft says up to 65hp, but that will add weight.

Were there certain years to avoid? Something about bad crankshaft or flywheel issues.

Thanks, Dave

[dan-in-tn]

I would rather avoid the ’60 & ’61 models, but a lot of those have given great service. Depends on how they have been run. They have the smaller cranks with the 7/8" flywheel nut. Also many have had powerheads. Since your boat is ’64? you probably want to stay with matching set?

Dan in TN

[david-bartlett]

Yes, she wants something the same year as the boat for now. 1964. The Merc 350 that is on it now is stuck anyway.

[Casey Lynn]

David, I am amazed how quiet the "Super Quiet" engines really are. When compared with the older single wall exhaust series there is no comparison.
Really, a pleasure to run them.

[david-bartlett]

Pappy,

Thanks for that info. I we likely be on the lookout for a nice Johnson/Evinrude of that year.

My dad had 1960 Glaspar with matching 40 Johnson but I was to young when he sold it to really remember how quiet it was.

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[lindy46]

Nice pic! I had the same boat/motor combination back in the day. 14′ Glasspar Marathon with a 1960 40hp Lark. We replaced the 40hp with a 1964 Sportfour 60hp. That was a big and heavy motor, and didn’t perform much better than the 40hp. Should have stuck with the 40hp on that boat. I’d look for a ’64 Lark.

[amuller]

All this makes me feel I’m on the right track with my ’64 40 hp.

[outbdnut2]

Back in 1965, Dad upgraded from a 1960 40 Johnson to a 1965 60 HP Johnson on a Crestliner Voyager14′ aluminum boat rated for 60 HP. The boat only weighed 190 pounds without motor and gear. The 60 made it fly, and just fast enough when propped right with one person in the boat so I could drop my ski and go barefoot behind it, but the weight of the motor screwed up the handling – you had to know what you were doing! It was no longer a boat anyone could drive. The 40 was a much better all around choice for a light boat like that. I’m assuming your Alumacraft is similar weight, etc. We ran 200 gallons of gas each summer through these motors, mostly pulling skiers. The 1960 40 HP was a disaster – everything broke over the 5 years we ran it, but, as someone else here said, that stuff got fixed on the 40s in later years. The V4 60 was a great, reliable motor. Both these motors were much quieter than same period and HP Mercurys that neighbors at the lake had.
Dave

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